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70110 Introduction to Law

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

UTS: Law
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 16128 Built Environment Law AND 70105 Legal Research AND 70113 Legal Process and History AND 70115 Perspectives on Law AND 79203 Business Law and Ethics

Handbook description

The subject is designed for non-lawyers and lawyers from legal traditions other than the common law tradition who need to acquire an understanding of the Australian legal system and fundamental principles within main areas of Australian law to assist them to undertake more specialised studies including those in a range of disciplines and fields other than law. It is designed to provide, in a module of nine out of a total of 12 topics, an introduction to the Australian legal system and an understanding of the western legal traditions and common law foundations for the legal system, followed by an introduction to principles of legal research and legal problem-solving, and to legal principles in the main areas of the law. This provides a foundation for students to undertake the research and learning in the last three topics of the subject which are specific to students' courses. It is intended that these nine topics are offered as an adjunct to a number of courses both internal and external, and it is designed to give an overview of those areas required to underpin the more specific and in-depth course materials which are taught in the remaining three topics. By combining the teaching of an understanding of the Australian legal system and major legal concepts with teaching the skills of research and legal problem-solving, the first nine topics of the subject equip students to move effectively into the specialised learning required not only in the last three topics but in their other subjects and their future studies.

Subject objectives

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an ability to view the law and the Australian legal system through its historical, sociological, jurisprudential, cultural, ethical philosophical and international contexts;
2. analyse legal issues in a logical and structured way;
3. develop a persuasive and coherent argument and communicate this clearly and concisely in class discussions;
4. write logically, succinctly and persuasively and comply with the Faculty's preferred style for referencing.

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes:

  • Legal Knowledge
    An advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of legal knowledge including the Australian legal system, social justice, cultural and international contexts, the principles and values of ethical practice, and contemporary developments in law and its professional practice. (1.0)
  • Ethics and Professional Responsibility
    An advanced and integrated capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards including an understanding of approaches to ethical decision making, the rules of professional responsibility, an ability to reflect upon and respond to ethical challenges in practice, and a developing ability to engage in the profession of law and to exercise professional judgment (2.0)
  • Critical Analysis and Evaluation
    A capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively including an ability to identify and articulate complex legal issues, apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate theoretical and practical responses, and, demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching complex legal issues and generating appropriate responses. (3.0)
  • Research Skills
    Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues and demonstrate intellectual and practical skills necessary to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions (4.0)
  • Communication and Collaboration
    Effective and appropriate professional communication skills including highly effective use of the English language, an ability to inform, analyse, report and persuade using an appropriate medium and message and an ability to respond appropriately. (5.0)

Teaching and learning strategies

Strategy 1
This course is conducted with the aim of promoting student centred learning. This aim will be achieved by requiring students to engage with the topics presented in the course through independent research on the internet as part of the required readings.

Strategy 2
Whilst the assessments in this course are designed to test students knowledge of the key principles that establish the framework of the Australian and International legal systems, the primary focus of the assessment regime is to test how well students can apply legal principles in a realistic civil, criminal and commercial legal context.

Strategy 3
Teaching will be conducted in a seminar style context for which students are expected to read a set of materials and prepare responses to a series of questions for that given topic.

Strategy 4
Students will be expected to participate in class discussions on issues relating to given topics. In this way students will be able to test their ideas and arguments with their colleagues as well as receive valuable feedback from other students and the seminar leader.

Strategy 5
Through integrated and planned research study skills quizzes conducted and facilitated by the law librarian the students will develop specific legal research and method skills to be able to access primary, secondary and tertiary legal information for their assessments and future professional practice.

Strategy 6
Through independent study and research, students will be able to extend and deepen their understanding of the various topics covered in this subject. The subject will be delivered by a lecture/seminar combination over a three hour teaching bloc each week. The program content is listed hereunder.


Seminar Format:
Each seminar will cover a range of topics in lecture format for the first part of the seminar. Students are expected to work individually at times but in some cases students will be asked to work in groups to facilitate collaborative answers to questions.

Expectation of Student Participation:
The student is expected to take responsibility for much of his or her own learning by reading in advance and (in the case of topics 1-9) considering the problem questions set for each week which are either placed online or taken from the textbook. Those for week 1 should be downloaded from UTS Online so that the student is ready to participate in the first seminar. The seminars will call on students to discuss and share ideas. Each week from week 4 several students will be called on to lead the class discussion of allocated questions. This is an assessment task.

Seminar Attendance:
There is an attendance requirement, the details of which can be found under the heading "task" under "Assessment item 1".

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Tutorial participation and leading class discussion on an allocated problem

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 3

This task contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes:

1.0, 4.0 and 5.0

Weight: 30

Assessment task 2: Research Essay

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 4

This task contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes:

1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0

Weight: 40
Length: 3,000 words

Assessment task 3: Final Exam

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 4

This task contributes specifically to the development of the following graduate attributes:

1.0 and 3.0

Weight: 30
Criteria:

A one hour open book exam covering topics 11-13

Required texts

S.Davenport and D.Parker Business and Law in Australia Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited (2012)

Recommended texts

Students who are interested who are interested in reading to more advanced levels should refer to Terry A and Guigni D, Business and the Law or Turner C, Australian Commercial Law

  1. Barron M : Fundementals of Business Law Mc Graw -Hill Aust 7th ed 2012
  2. Carvan J. Understanding the Australian Legal System, LawBook Co 6th ed 2010
  3. Chisholm R and Nettheim G Understanding Law: An Introduction to the Australian Legal System. Butterworths 8th ed 2012
  4. Ciro T Law and BusinessOUP 2011 3rd ed.
  5. Crossling G and Murphy H. How to Study Business Law.Butterworths 4th ed 2009
  6. Concise Australian Legal Dictionary Lexis-Nexis Butterworths
  7. Gibson A and Fraser D Business Law 6th ed Pearson 2012
  8. James, Nikolas Business Law 2nd ed Wiley 2012
  9. Latimer P. Australian Business Law CCH Australia 2012
  10. Miles C and Dowler W A Guide to Business Law 20th ed Thomson Reuters 2013
  11. PentonyB, Graw S &ors Understanding Business Law, Lexis-Nexis 6th ed 2012
  12. Steinwall R Annotated Competition and Consumer Act,2010, LexisNexis 2013
  13. Stuhmcke, A Legal Referencing Butterworths 4th ed 2012
  14. Terry A and Guigni D Business and the Law Thomson Publications 5th ed 2009
  15. Turner C Australian Commercial Law Thompson Publications 29th ed 2012

Other resources

  1. Richard Chisholm and Garth Nettheim, Understanding Law Lexis Nexis Butterworths (8th Ed, 2012)
  2. Michael Brogan and David Spencer, Surviving Law School (2nd Ed, 2008)
  3. Enid Campbell and Richard Fox, Students’ Guide to Legal Writing and Law Exams (3rd Ed, 2010)
  4. Simon Chesterman and Clare Rhoden, Studying Law at University: Everything You Need to Know (2nd Ed, 2005)
  5. Claire Macken, Law Student Survival Guide: 9 Steps to Law Study Success Thomson Reuters (2nd Ed, 2006)


Useful Websites

  1. Australasian Legal Information Institute [Austlii]: <http://www.austlii.edu.au>
  2. NSW Government [especially ‘Law & Justice’]: <http://www.nsw.gov.au>
  3. Commonwealth Government [especially ‘Law & Justice’]: <http://www.australia.gov.au>
  4. ABC Radio National’s, The Law Report: <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/default.htm>